Flush-valve-operating mechanism.



J. W. BRAGGER.

FLUSH VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION IILBD nov. 24, 1913. mmnwnn JULY 18, 1914.

Patented Sept. 8, 191i WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. BRAGGER, 0F WATERTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO J. B. WISE, INO., OF WATERTOWN, NEW YORK, A'CORPORA'IION 01 NEW YORK.

FLUSH-VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8 1914.

Application filed November 24, 1913, Serial No. 802,637. Renewed luly l8, 191 4. Sabina/851,816.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. BRAGGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Watertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flush- Valve-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for operating flush valves, such as are employed for flushing latrine bowls,

and especially valves of the class which are out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is an inside elevation, with the parts in position ready to open the flush valve. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation; showing the parts operated to open the flush valve. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section substantially on line 4-4'of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan' vie w of the plate which supports the mechanism inside the tank. Fig. 6 is an-edge view of the same. Fig. 7 is a detail view; showing a modification of the supporting plate.

In the drawing, 5 represents a ortion of the flush tank well, which is perforated at 6 to receive certain parts of the flush valve operating parts.

The mechanism for operating the flush valve consists of the following parts: 7 represents the flush valve lever, to one end of which is attached a rod or lift 8 which connects with the flush valve (not shown), The opposite end of the lever 7 is pivoted, by means of a perforation 7 on a hollow hu 9, which is concentric to the erforation 6 of the tank. The hub 9 is pre erably an integral part of a supporting plate 1 0, which lies against the inner face of the tank .5. 11 represents a threaded bushing or tubular bolt, which passes through the perforation and arrangement, but one perforation is required, and the plate 10 is rendered capable of su port ng all of the operating parts dispose within the tank.

The flush valve lever 7 is operated vertically on the central pivot '9, by means of a camlever 13, which has its fulcrum at the opp'osite side of the hub 9 from which the lever is disposed, and is substantially in l ne w1th the said lever. The said fulcrum consists of a stud or pin 14, preferably a part of the plate 10, which is located rearwardly of the fulcrum of lever 7', and which passes through a hole 15 in the cam-lever 13. The central portion of the cam-lever 13 s cut-away to form an opening 16 which is substantially oval in shape, and is concentric to the hub 9 of the'plate 10, which is the fulcrum of the lever 7. The upper side or edge of the opening 16 is formed into a cam face 17. The opposite or forward end of the cam-lever 13 is provided with a stud or pro ection 18, which faces the wall of the tank, and this stud engages a perforation 19 in the lever 7 forwardly of the hub 9. The rocking of the cam-lever 13 on the fulcrum'1415 causes the stud 18 to move the free end 7' of the lever 7 vertically, as shown in Fig. 2. The cam-lever 13 is operated by a cam 20, which substantially conforms in shape to the opening 16, and which lies in but is somewhat smaller than the said opening for allowing suitable manipulation.

The top edge 20 of the cam is straight or flat, and conforms to and normally engages the cam face 17 of the part 13. The cam 20 is mounted upon or maybe an integral part of one end of an operating shaft or rod 21, which is rotatably disposed in the bushing or thimble 11, the other end of the shaft 21 is threaded to receive a de ending gravita tive handle 22, by means 0 which the shaft is rocked in opposite directions for actuating the cam 20. The handle 22 is further held in place on the shaft 21 by a setscrew 23, the .inner end of which engages a groove 24 in the shaft, as shown in Fig. 3.

To apply my improved flush valve operating mechanism to a tank, the bushing 11,

afterhaving been screwed into the plate 10,

is inserted through the perforation 6, the nut 12 is then screwed onto the outer end of the bushing, and the parts are drawn tightly a ainst the opposite sides of the tank 5. Tie valve operating lever 7 is then placed in position over the hub 9 of the plate 10. The cam-lever 13 is then placed in position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, after which'the operating shaft 21 is inserted into the bushing 11 until the cam 20 enters the opening 16 of the lever 13. The handle 22 is next applied to the threaded end of the shaft and the screw 23 driven into place. To hold the cam-lever in place, the cam 20 is provided with one or more projecting wings or lugs 25, which overlap the cam-lever 13 above or below the opening 16. In this way the cam cooperates wit the handle 22 for holding both of the levers 7 and 13 in the operative position, without any other fastening or securing means. The provision of the cam-lever 13, having its fulcrum on the side of the operating shaft opposite the lever 7, the pivoting of the valve lever 7 on the hub 9 concentric to the operating shaft 21, and the disposing of the stud 18 which controls the lever 7, between its free end and the shaft 21, afford, novel, simple and powerful means for lifting the lever 7 for opening the valve. When the handle 22 is swung to the left, the portion 26 of the cam 20' bearing against the cam face 17 lifts the cam-lever 13, while the latter through the stud 18 lifts the valve lever 7 (see full lines Fig. 2). On the other hand, when the handle 22 is swung to the right the portion 27 of the cam 20 bearing against the opposite end of the cam face 17 lifts the cam-lever 13 and the lever 7 to the same extent (see dotted lines Fig. 2.) By this construction and arrangement of the parts, the swinging of the handle 22 either to the right or to the left a short distance and with a very slight amount of power or force, effects the u ward tilting of the free end of the lever 7 which connects with and unseats the flush valve.

It is obvious that some changes or modifications of the parts of my mechanism may be made, within the scope defined by the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a flush tank operating device, an operating shaft piercing the wall of the tank, a plate mounted on the inside of the tank and provided with a fulcrum center concentric to said shaft and with a pin at one side of said shaft, a flush valve operating lever mounted on said fulcrum center and provided with a perforation at the op posite side of said shaft, a cam-lever ivoted on said pin and provided with a stu which engages the perforation in said operating lever, and a cam mounted on the operating shaft and interlocking with said cam-lever.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a valve lever disposed in a tank, a plate in the tank provided with a hollow hub pivotally supporting one end of said valve lever, said plate having a fulcrum-pin spaced from said hub, a cam-lever pivoted at one end on said fulcrum-pin and provided with an opening having a cam-face and at its opposite end with a stud engaging a hole in said valve lever, a cam loosely fitting the opening in said cam-lever normally contacting with said camface, a shaft journaled in said hub and connected to said cam, and means for rotating said shaft.

3. A device for operating flush valves, comprising a plate mounted on the inside of the tank and provided with a hollow hub to receive an operating shaft and with a fulcrum-pin at one side of said hub, a lever mounted at one end on said hub, the opposite end connected to a valve-lift, a camlever pivoted on said pin and provided with a stud which engages a hole in said lever at the opposite side of said hub, and an operating shaft journaled in said hub and carrying a cam in operative engagement with said cam-lever.

4. In a flush valve operating mechanism, a plate mounted inside the tank and provided with a hub arranged concentric to a perforation in the tank and a fulcrum center at one side of said hub, a valve lever pivoted on said hub, a cam-lever for actuating said valve lever, said cam-lever mounted at one end on said fulcrum, the opposite end rovided with a pin which engages a hole in the valve lever forwardly of the said hub, an operating shaft j ournaled in the perforation of the tank and piercing said hub, a cam connected to the inner end of said shaft and engaging said cam-lever intermediate its ends adapted when rocked by said shaft to lift said cam-lever.

5. In a flush valve operating mechanism, the combination with a plate mounted inside the tank provided with a hollow hub, and a bushing piercing the wall of the tank and supporting said plate, of a valve lever pivoted at one end on said hub, the opposite end connecting with a valve lift-rod, a camlever having its fulcrum at one side of said hub, the forward end of said cam-lever provided with a stud inserted in a hole in said valve lever at the opposite side of said hub, a' shaft journaled in said bushing, a cam mounted on the inner end of said shaft and. interlocked with said cam-lever, and a bandle secured to the outer end ofsaid shaft for rocking said shaft and said cam.

' 6. A device for unseating flush valves,

comprising an operating shaft journaled in a perforation in the wall of the tank, a plate mounted on the inside of the tank having an opening to receive said shaft and having a fulcrum arranged concentric to said shaft and a pin spaced from said opening, a flush valve operating lever, one end of said lever mounted on said fulcrum, the opposite end of said lever connecting with a valve lift, a cam-lever mounted on said in and over lapping the end of said v ve-lever, said cam-lever having a stud piercing said valve lever and an opening ad acent said fulcrum provided with a cam-face, a cam controlled y said shaft, said cam disposed in the opening in said cam-lever adapted when rocked in opposite directions to lift said cam-lever, and means for rocking said shaft.

7. A flush valve operating mechanism, comprising a plate having a hollow hub projecting into the tank and having a stud whose axis is parallel to the axis of said hub,

a valve 0 erating lever having at its rear end a per oration for receiving said hub, the

opposite end connecting with a valve liftrod, said valve lever having a perforation intermediate its ends, a cam-lever pivoted rovided tions to lift the forward end of said camlever for actuating said valve lever, and a shaft adapted to rock said cam.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a valve lever disposed in a tank, a plate in the tank provided with a hollow ub pivotally supporting one end of said valve lever, a cam-lever supported by said plate and provided withan opening having a cam-face, a cam loosely fitting the opening in said cam-lever normally contacting with said cam-face, a shaft journaled in said hub and connected to said cam, and means for rotating said shaft.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. BRAGGER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE H. MOKANE, A. H. WAITE. 

